NAROWAL: Sewage overflowing because of choked sewerage system has submerged a considerable part of the Pukka Bagh graveyard situated in the heart of the city, turning it into a pond.

According to locals, sewage overflowing from choked sewerage systems of Hajwer Colony, Mahallah Farooq Ganj and Model Town, has been accumulating in the Pukka Bagh graveyard, submerging hundreds of graves there.

They said because of the sewage, more than hundreds of graves had collapsed, causing distress among those visiting the graveyard to offer prayers for their deceased loved ones.

They said the locals after filing complaints with the municipal committee and getting no response had now started dumping earth in the graveyard using tractor-trollies on a self-help basis.

Kareem Bakhsh, a local, said, “We have submitted applications to the Municipal Committee and the deputy commissioner’s office many times, demanding the sewage accumulating in the graveyard should be flushed out, but in vain.”

The locals have demanded that Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar should take immediate notice of the situation and order measures to resolve the issue.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2019